A movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing, used with derricks, etc.

(b)

A form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling ships into dock, etc.

(c)

A machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn.

(d)

A claw for anchoring a portable machine.

Calling crab. Zool. See Fiddler., n., 2. -- Crab apple, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also, the tree which bears it; as, the European crab apple (Pyrus Malus var.sylvestris); the Siberian crab apple (Pyrus baccata); and the American (Pyrus coronaria). -- Crab grass. Bot. (a) A grass (Digitaria, ∨ Panicum, sanguinalis); -- called also finger grass. (b) A grass of the genus Eleusine (E. Indica); -- called also dog's-tail grass, wire grass, etc. -- Crab louseZool., a species of louse (Phthirius pubis), sometimes infesting the human body. -- Crab ploverZool., an Asiatic plover (Dromas ardeola). -- Crab's eyes, ∨ Crab's stones, masses of calcareous matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either side of the stomach of the European crawfishes, and formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid purposes; the gastroliths. -- Crab spiderZool., one of a group of spiders (Laterigradae); -- called because they can run backwards or sideways like a crab. -- Crab tree, the tree that bears crab applies. -- Crab wood, a light cabinet wood obtained in Guiana, which takes a high polish. McElrath. -- To catch a crabNaut., a phrase used of a rower: (a) when he fails to raise his oar clear of the water; (b) when he misses the water altogether in making a stroke.